Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy With Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Youth

The purpose of the present paper is to sensitize cognitive-behavior therapists to issues that are faced by many lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth. Little information is available to cognitive-behavioral therapists about same-sex sexual attractions in lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth, or how to incorporate these concerns into one's functional analysis and treatment plan. However, lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth may be at risk for a variety of clinical problems amenable to cognitive-behavioral therapy. We provide necessary information for the incorporation of issues concerning same-sex sexuality into one's case formulations when working with lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth, illustrated by case examples and clinical vignettes.